Bandipore/Srinagar, February 15 (Scoop News) –People’s Democratic Party (PDP)president Mehbooba Mufti has said while corruption graph was rising to unprecedented levels in the state the government response to it was becoming more and more farcical.
Addressing party workers of Bandipore district here today she said nobody would be impressed by the coalition government’s witch hunt among the low grade employees to find scapegoats for its massive frauds and failures. She was referring to government announcement of premature retirement of 13 middle rung and low paid employees yesterday in the name of cleansing the administration.
Mehbooba said corruption in high places could not be controlled by removal of teachers, linemen and technicians. "There is no doubt that corruption has eaten into the vitals of our society and it is hurting the common man at every level. Whether it is about getting a document from revenue department, a ration card, a residence certificate, an identity card, a driving licence or a big contract, nothing happens without greasing the palm of the concerned in most cases, but all this is promoted by the top guns who receive share of the booty." She said if the entire political leadership that heads the administration is suspected of corruption and malpractice, going after the small fish will only feed cynicism and evoke derision.
The PDP president said it looked ironically cruel that a teacher should be removed from service in the name of toning up administration at a time when education minister’s involvement in the exam scam has been established beyond doubt and the system based on political expediency not able to do anything. Similarly, she said power sector has been the worst victim of corruption, malpractices and misgovernance in the last three years. Although chief minister who also holds the charge of power portfolio needed to explain the downswing in a sector that had been put on rails by the previous coalition but instead a lineman, the lowest rung official in the department, has been called to account and made to pay with his job, she said. While serious allegations have been made against the PHE minister even by his own party-men, government crackdown is confined to junior engineers who also are apparently taking the brunt of allegations against the rural development minister. "Accountability, clearly can’t get more farcical than that" Mehbooba quipped.
Party General Secretary Mohammed Dilawar Mir, District President Yasir Reshi, Zonal presidents Imtiyaz Hameed Reshi and Ab Majid Rahi, party leaders Adv Ab Majid Mir, Shiekh Qawamudin Shilwati and Ab Rashid Singh were also present and addressed the workers on this occasion.
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